Recommendations for the measurement of sexual steroids in clinical practice. A position statement of SEQCML/SEEN/SEEP

Abstract

The proper clinical approach to a wide range of disorders relies on the availability of accurate, reproducible laboratory results for sexual steroids measured using methods with a high specificity and sensitivity. The chemiluminescent immunoassays currently available have analytical limitations with significant clinical implications. This position statement reviews the current limitations of laboratory techniques for the measurement of estradiol and testosterone and their impact on diverse clinical scenarios. A set of recommendations are provided to incorporate steroid hormone analysis by mass spectrometry in national health systems. International societies have recommended this methodology for a decade.

Keywords: estradiol; immunoassay; mass spectrometry; sexual steroids; testosterone.